PM reinvites PPP to join cabinet

A day after a PPP leader hinted at the party's willingness to join the PML-N led Punjab government, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif once again invited the PPP to join the federal cabinet.

On Sunday, a PPP delegation called on the prime minister to discuss the political situation and the upcoming federal budget.

The delegation included Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and Sherry Rehman. The government team comprised Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Advisor Rana Sanaullah, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.

According to sources, the delegation demanded a people-friendly budget with a 20% to 25% increase in the salaries and pensions of government employees. They also urged for the expedited provision of funds for flood victims and development projects in Sindh, to which the prime minister gave a positive assurance.

The sources said that during the interaction, the PM once again extended an invitation to the party to join the federal government. The delegation stated that a final decision in this regard would be made by PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

On Saturday, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, who belongs to the PPP, said his party might join the PML-N’s Punjab government.” Gilani, who was talking to reporters at his residence, said his party leadership could consider joining the cabinet of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz if provided with “proper space” in the province.

The PPP, the third-largest party in the National Assembly, supported the PML-N to form a government in the Center in the wake of the February 8 general elections but chose not to become part of the cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The party currently holds constitutional positions like that of the president, Senate chairman, National Assembly deputy speaker, and governors in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.